On Thursday, August 26, enjoy happy hour in the museum’s outdoor sculpture courtyard with music provided by the DJs behind MESH, a monthly inclusive queer dance party.

Bring your appetite, too! Regional food trucks and a bar created by Café Carnegie offering custom snacks, kid-friendly treats, local beers, delicious wines, and more will be on-site.

While you’re at Inside Out, participate in art-making activities for all ages.

Inside Out events are FREE, open to all ages, have limited capacity, and are available on a first-come-first-serve basis. Make a day of it and reserve your timed tickets to visit the museum before or after you enjoy Inside Out!

LINER NOTES

Interview with Inside Out Co-Producer Lauren Goshinksi

MESH is an inclusive queer dance party that features queer, trans, and nonbinary artists from all across the North American underground scene. Influenced by their peers you can find anything from house to left-field techno playing at their events, anything to get you dancing all night long.

LG: Hello MESH! Just wanted to say I’m a fan of party names that let you know different scenes and sounds are probably going to blend together :) Naming events and collectives can be so difficult; can you give us some backstory on the idea behind MESH and how it continues to evolve today in terms of people and sounds?

It stemmed from us wearing a ton of mesh clothing when we went out together, and then we started to realize it could have a bigger meaning to what our party is. MESH as a collective was created as a way to bring friends and artists who we loved into our city to share music and experience. We also really try our best to make sure our parties are safe and inclusive for all and not just for one scene of people, thus our parties are a place for people to sort of mesh together. As we move forward to continue to keep these goals in mind and focus on keeping the inclusive DIY nature of our parties forefront.

LG: Your lead members have been based in Pittsburgh and the Bay Area. What are some of your observations when it comes to creating and holding space for queer and independent music communities in these cities (one that is so heavily gentrified due to tech, and one that seems to be quickly on its way…).

The struggle with gentrification is so tricky. There is always gonna be a point where queer and independent spaces feel under attack by this. That’s why we find so much importance in doing a more DIY thing so that we can have a safe haven from that. We are always impressed and inspired by all of the ways people in our community hold spaces and figure out how to continue to hold them.

LG: Speaking of independent space, before Covid (and hopefully after) you held resident MESH events at 3577 Studios, which is an artist studio and event space in Polish Hill. While it’s not a bar, nightclub, or typical music venue, why is a space like 3577 essential to a city’s music ecosystem?

Spaces like 3577 are so essential. Just the pure creative energy of everyone involved is so positive and uplifting. It’s a space where people create, gather, dance, and more. It’s really special. We think it’s vital to be able to have a space that isn’t a bar or a club in the music community. Not everyone wants to be at a bar and we see that a lot with who comes to MESH. The magic of a creative space you can just go to and dance without all of the “politics” around clubs and bars is great.

LG: Drop some knowledge. What are the sources of your music inspiration?
Or, is there anything you wish people knew more about Pittsburgh music and nightlife?

We have so many sources of inspiration. We have friends all over the country doing really cool stuff whether it be a party, gathering, or a live stream. Being able to bring people to Pittsburgh to play music is basically constant inspiration. Every artist we’ve ever booked has shown us so much. We wish people knew how close the scene here is and when we book people from out of town it’s so amazing to share the family vibes.

LG: How can people help music and nightlife in Pittsburgh recover from Covid, and come back better? Anything on the horizon folks should attend or support?

Attend events both virtual and IRL if you’re comfortable! Start to pay closer attention to things going on in the city, follow event pages and artists to stay in the loop! Also keep watch for fundraisers for struggling artists and members in the community!

LG: For you, why is music and nightlife an essential part of culture at large?

For us it has been such an essential part of who we are as queer people. These spaces and events are places we can truly be who we are to the fullest. We all started going out at a young age because these places resonated so much with us, and are very much responsible for much of how we are today. I know for many other members of the LBGTQIA+ community these spaces hold the same importance.

LG: TRACK ID. Name a track you’re rinsing right now, that we might hear at Carnegie Museum of Art.

Chadkid: Greg Wilson ft. The Reynolds – Summer Came My Way
I’ve been obsessed with this summery, chuggy disco bop from a couple years back.

Sis Girl: Medical Woman (feat. Patricia Kuelligs) by Baumusik
I’ve been super into this weird drummy track with some talking vocals that remind me of if a robot was teaching a yoga class it’s called

Calin: Lifespan – OSSX.
I have been really digging this clubby breaky joint from Allergy season last spring off of Split Wig, and it definitely does just that.

LG: Describe a MESH night or your sound in 5 words or less :)

ChadKid: I would say my sound lately has been; breezy, bouncy, groovy ;)

Sis Girl: My sound is deep, minimal, acid and trippines

Calin: Breaky, clubby, weird, chuggy, left field

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About the Artists:

MESH is an inclusive queer dance party that takes place on the first Friday of every other month. Resident DJs include Chadkid, Sis Girl, and Calin.

About Inside Out:

Inside Out is Carnegie Museum of Art’s new outdoor summer event series celebrating and supporting Pittsburgh’s rich cultural landscape. Running from June 5 through September 4 on Thursdays from 4-8 p.m. and Saturdays from 12-5 p.m., the museum is partnering with over 28 regional artists and small arts organizations to transform the museum’s outdoor Sculpture Courtyard into the season’s go-to destination with a robust schedule of pop-up performances, DJs, art-making activities, local food trucks and beverages, kid-friendly treats, and more. See the full schedule of events here.